Valve mechanism for internal combustion engines



I Dec. 9, 1941. A. E. LUDWIG 2,265,298

VALVE MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES- Filed Feb. 26, 1941 3Sheets-Sheet l INVENTCR. 4e/v0w fan 420 wr /g,

Dec. 9, 1941. A. E. LUDWIG VALVE MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTIONENINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 26, 1941 Illllli Ilillll JTTOENEYDec. 9, 1941. A. E. LUDWIG I 2,265,298-

VALVE MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Feb. 26, 194; 5Sheets-Shet 5 I Patented Dec. 9, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VALVEMEcHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Arnold Edward Ludwig, AsburyPark, N. J. Application February 26, 1941, Serial No. 380,610

, vide effective seals between the valve member -.6Clainis.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines, and is concernedprimarily with the valves that control the intake and exhaust ports ofthe cylinders.

Under present-day conditions the valves which control the intake andexhaust ports of an in-'- temal combustion engine moveinto and out of aseated position in the valve opening, this being true whether the motorbe of the V-type, L-head or overhead valve type of engine. Due to thisfundamental characteristic of the operation of the valve, it has beennecessary to employ 'vari-' ous types of tappets and connections betweenthe valve and the cam shaft which operates the same for the-purpose ofproviding a fixed clearance.

Various attempts have also been made to make provision for automaticallytaking up wear in v the valves. In all these cases now in use andavailable to the public, there is great danger of the valve sticking andserious damage resulting therefrom. Moreover, the need for the fixedclearances inthe connections between the valve and the cam shaft toinsure of proper seating der of an internal combustion engine which ischaracterized as having an oscillating motion.

Still more in detail the invention has in view the provision of a valvemember mounted for rotating oscillating movement and which is designedin one position to close the port with which it is associated, andinanother position, establishes communication between said Port and thecylinder.

In providing an oscillating valve of the type shaft.

and the engine head when the valve is in portclosing position. Thisobject is achieved by forming the valve member with notches defininshoulders that are adapted to engage complemental shoulders on theengine head. Thus, when a valve is moved into closed position, and alimited movement is reached, the shoulders of, these notches engage toprovide a good seal.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of means forlubricating the valve member. The oscillation of the valve member in thecap block requires that it be properly lubricated. In accordance withthis invention, the cap block is formed with recesses which receive afelt lubricating pad. These recesses open onto the top surface of theblock and at the top surfaceare enlarged to provide a gutter whichcollects lubricant coming from the cam shaft and other instrumettalitiesof the motor. I v

A somewhat detailed feature of the invention is the provision of a capblock having an inclined top surface over which the lubricant is adaptedto drain. As the lubricant drains across this inclined top surface, aportion thereof will be collected in the gutter to be fed to the feltlubricating pad. The latter engages the valve member to insure properlubrication thereof;

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of novel andimproved means for controlling the operation of the valve from the camWhether a valve is associated with an exhaust or intake port, it isimportant that it remain in open or closed position for certain exactlydetermined periods during the cycle of operation.

above-noted, a substantially cylindrical valve the port, the latter isclosed, but when the groove is brought opposite the port, communicationbe-' tween the port and the cylinderis established.

An important object of the invention is to .pro-

This invention provides connections between an overhead cam shaft andthe valve member for insuring of such accurately timed operation. Yetanother object of'the invention is the provision of an internalcombustion engine of the character above-noted including a valve membermounted in a cap block, together with means for adjusting the cap blockwith respect to the engine head on which it is mounted so as to providefor adjustment in the cap block commensurate with wear on the valvemember.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a valve memberand cap block assembly of the character above-noted, "together with oilsealing means which is interposed between the two. This oil sealingmeans is eflective to prevent'lubricating oil from running down into thecombustion chamber ofthe cylinder.

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention willin part become including novel ;characteristics as to its mounting,connections to the operating cam shaft, and lubrication.

For a full andmore complete understanding of thefinvention, referencemay be had to the following description and accompanying drawingswherein: I

Figure l is' a sectional view through the top portion of an internalcombustion engine including valve mechanism, in accordance with theprecepts of this invention, \a

Figure 2 is another sectional view similar to Figure '1, with partsomitted, developing the valve in a different. position of operation,

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed view in perspective of the valvemember, certain cams on the cam shaft, and the operating connectionstherebetween, 1

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the cap block and associated parts inwhich the several elements are developed in exploded relation,

Figure 5 is an enlarged detailed sectional showing throughthe valvemember and cap block, developing the manner in which the oil seal ismounted in the former,

Figure 6 is a detailed perspective view of an oil seal element per se,and

to the shoulder 29.

provide an effective seal betweenthe cap I! and head l3.

The under face of the cap-like block I1 is formed with an arcuatesurface 23 and fitted in this recess 23 for oscillating movement thereinis thevalve member 24. The valve member 24 is substantially cylindricalin formation for the surface 26. The valve member 24 is notched at toprovide a shoulder complemental to the shoulder 28 and is formed with aprojection at 3| that provides a shoulder thatis complemental In theposition of the valve depicted in Figure 1,

the valve member 24 closes the port It. Thus, 7 the valve is intended tobe in sealing position and to enhance the effectiveness of this seal,the

Figure 7 is a bottom plan of the cap block per se. 1

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters denotecorresponding parts, and first more particularly to Figurel, a block andhead of an internal combustion engine are referred to in their entiretyby the reference character E. The block itself is shown at H) as formedwith the usual cylinder opening II that is surrounded by the jacketedwall construction l2 which provides a circulatory cooling system. Thehead is shown at l3 as also being of a jacket- 1 ed construction, andthis head is formed with the opening l4 that is in :alignment with andconstitutes a continuation of the cylindrical opening II. The head l3carries a spark plug at I5 and is formed with a port l6 which, for theexemplary purposes of this specification, may be termed the intake portfor the cylinder II.

It is to be understood that the head l3 will be formed with both anintakeand exhaust port for each cylinder of the engine. Whether the portbe an intake port, or. an exhaust port, in each instance it will becontrolled by an oscillating.

valve of the type to be hereinafter described.

A cap block I! is shown as mounted onthe head I 3. 'This' cap block isshown in detailin Figure 4, and it will be noted that headed bolts l8extendthrough openings I 9 in the block to points of anchorage in thehead I3 into which the lower end of the bolts l8 arescrewed. A

1 plurality of shims 20 are interposed between the cap-block I l'and'thehead [3, and by-varying :the number of theseshims 20, adjustment betweenthe block I! and head l3 may be attained;

It-will .be noted from Figure 1 that the cap block I! is also of ajacketed construction pro- -'viding cooling chambers 2| which maybeinshoulder 28 engages the complemental shoulder of the notch 30, whilethe shoulder 29 similarly engages the complemental notch of the shoulderbottom of the groove 32. Each of these oil seals 33 carries edgesurfaces 35 that are intended to v be urged into wiping engagement withthe arcuate surface 23 of the cap block l1.

. It will be noted that in the assembled position the cap block I! has atop surface 36 .that is inclined to the horizontal. Lubricant comingfrom the cam shaft which is disposed thereabove (to be later described)will fall on this p surface 36, and due to the inclination thereof, willdrain thereover. At'an appropriate point the surface 35 is formed with agutter-31.

Slots 38 extend between the bottom of the gutter 31 and the arcuatesurface 23, these slots being enlarged at the bottom to provide arcuaterecesses 39. The slots 38, together with the reces'ses 39 and thecylindrical surface of the valve member 24, define a T-formation.Received in this formation is a lubricating member 40 which may be ofany appropriate material, such as felt,

whereby it is constituteda wick.

It will be noted that the wick 40 has a central web 4| formed with anotch 42 midway the extremities thereof, which accommodate the unslottedbottom of the gutter 31. The legs of this web 41 project up into thegutter 31 and slightly above the surface'36, asshown in Figure 1. Thisfelt- 40 absorbs lubricant'collected in the gutter 31 and transmits thesame to the cylindrical surface of the valve member 24 to lubricate 'thelatter. I I

The valve member 24 projects beyond the cap block I! at one end andattached thereto is a fork member 43. Any'appropriatemeans may be usedto attach the member 43 to thevalve member 24, such as the screwfastening elements shown at 44. The fork member 43 carries a pair oflegs 45 and 48, the upper portions of which are offset with respect to.each other. A roller 41, is carried at the upper leg 45 while a secondroller 48 is carried at the upper end of the leg 48, and these rollers41 and 48 are in offset relation. An overhead cam shaft is designated 49and it will be noted that this cam shaft is operatively connected withthe drive shaft of r the engine in any well-known manner. A cam 50 isdrivably mounted on the shaft 49 and has a cam surface that engages theroller 41. A second cam 52 is also drivably mounted on the cam shaft 49and has a cam surface 53 in en: gagement with the roller 48.

To the end of enclosing the valve member 24 to as great an extent aspractical, the groove delined by the arcuate surface 23 is closed at oneend by an end wall 54. At the end carrying the fork 43 the cap block I!is formed with a flange 55 that hangs over the forward face of the valvemember 24, and serves to retain the latter in position.

While the operation of the above-described mechanism is believed to beobvious, it may be briefly outlined by noting that with the valve member24 in position closing the port l6, the groove 25 is disposed at the topof the opening l4 in the head I3. An effective seal is provided byshoulders 28, 29, and notches 30, 3|. The valve member 24 will remain inclosed position 3 extending outwardly from the periphery of said valveand arranged to span the Joint between said valve and the wall of saidarcuate recess.

2. In an internal combustion engine including an engine block and a headformed with a cylinder opening, there being a port in said headcommunicating with said cylinder opening, and an overhead cam shaft,valve mechanism below said cam shaft for said port comprising a valvemember formed with a recess that is adapted to be brought into registrywith said port to establish communication between said port and saidcylinder opening, an arm carried by said valve member, cam means on saidcam shaft engaging said arm to oscillate said valve member, said camshaft and valve being arranged for lubrication in succession by a commonsource.

3. In an internal combustion engine including, I

an engine block and a head formed with a cylinder opening, there being aport in said head communicating with said cylinder opening, and

' an overhead cam shaft, valve mechanism below just as long as it isrequired by the cycle of opera- 7 tion of the engine. As the cam shaft49. rotates in a counterclockwise direction, (speaking with reference tothe showing of the'drawings), the cam surface 5| of the camv 50 forcesthe roller 41 to the left, thus rocking the valve into the open positiondepicted in Figure 2. In this position it will be noted that the groove25 establishes communication between the port l6 and the cylinder II.This open position is maintained just so long as the roller 41 is keptover to the left by the long end of the cam 50. As rotation of'the camshaft 49 continues, the cam surface 53 of the cam 52 engages the roller48 to shift the latter to the right and bring the valve member 24 backinto the closed position illustrated in Figure 1.

While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is hereinbeforeset forth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not tobe limited to the exact construction illustrated and described, becausevarious modifications of these details may be provided in putting theinvention into practice, within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an internal combustion engine including an engine block and headformed with a cylinder opening, there being a port in said headcommunicating with said opening, valve mechanism for said portcomprising a cap block anchored-to said head and forming an arcuaterecess above said cylinder opening, a substantially cylindrically shapedvalve member mounted for oscillation in said camshaft for said portcomprising a valve member, an arm carried by said valve member 1 andformed with spaced cam engaging means, cams on said cam shaft engagingsaid spaced cam engaging means, and means for collecting oil from saidcam shaft to supply lubricant to said valve member.

4. In an internal combustion engine including an engine block and a headformed with a cylinder opening, there being a port in said headcommunicating with said cylinder opening, and an overhead cam shaft,valve mechanism below said camshaft for said port comprising a cap blockcarried by said head and formed with a recess above said cylinderopening, a substantially cylindrically shaped valve member in saidrecess and formed with a groove adapted to be brought into registry withsaid port, an arm carried by said valve member, cam means on said camshaft engaging said armto oscillate said valve member, and means forcatching a limited quantity of oil from said cam shaft and introducingit by gravity between said cap block and said valve member.

5. In an internal combustion engine including an engine block and headformed with a cylinder opening, therebeing a port in the head communiaterecess above. said cylinder opening,

and said cylinder opening when said means is brought into registry withsaid port, means for oscillating said valve member, and sealing meansbetween said valve member and said head which is rendered effective whensaid valve member closes said port, said means including a shoulder.port and said cylinder, the periphery of said valve member adjacent onecating with the said cylinder opening, valve mechanism for said portcomprising a cap block anchored to said head and formed with an arcusaidcap block having an inclined upper surface formed with a gutter, the capblock also being formed with slots extending between said gutter andsaid arcuate recess, a wick member in said slots projecting into saidgutter, a valve member in said recess formed with a groove adapted to bebrought into registry with said port, and means for oscillating saidvalve member.

6. In an internal combustion engine having a cylinder and a portcommunicating therewith, valve mechanism for said port comprising a canblock carried bysaid engine and formed with a recess, a valve membermounted for oscilla tion in said recess and formed with a groove adaptedto be brought into registry with said port'to establish communicationbetween said a shoulder extending from edge of said groove and adaptedto span the joint between said valve member and said recess and mean:for oscillating said valve member.

' ARNOLD EDWARD LU'DWIG.

